Aussie grasses don't like to live overseas

Abstract

When an internet search is done for Australian plants that have become weeds overseas, very few are mentioned. Eucalypts and wattles (Acacia spp.) grow very well overseas, sometimes with weedy vigour. Possums abound in New Zealand and England has colonies of our red-necked wallabies in the wild. In contrast, Australia has been very accommodating of numerous overseas plants and animals even with vigorous efforts to eradicate them in some cases.
This apparent anomaly is explored to see if we can learn something which will help us to make more informed decisions about the use and re-sowing of native grasses in our diverse landscapes. Some of our native grasses such as black speargrass (Heteropogon contortus), and kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) are also native to other old Gondwanaland places like South America, India and Southern Africa. Others that are well regarded here and truly endemic such as curly Mitchell grass (Astrebla lappacea), Queensland bluegrass (Dichanthium sericeum) and mulga Mitchell grass (Thyridolepis mitchelliana) have not been a success anywhere overseas.